My mom,Cecille,died on August 08.

[Swede]

As I went through her stuff,this poem was the third thing I found. I know she wanted us to find it.


You can shed tears that she is gone,
or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back,
or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her and only that she's gone,
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what she'd want:smile,open your eyes,love and go on.

[Shine]

1. What is Remembered, Lives....

Blessed be to your beloved Mother, Swede. :hug: True Love NEVER dies...

[mad-mommy]

2. so sorry about your mom...

I remember going through my mom's things. I found a letter I wrote her begging her to take care of herself better. She never threw it away. And I couldn't throw it away either.

[auntAgonist]

3. Swede, thank you so very much for sharing your

Mother's words. My heart goes out to you as you work through these very hard days. Your Mother's poem means a lot to me too. My Mum died on Aug 23rd of '97. I still miss her terribly.

:hug: for you

aA
kesha

[u4ic]

6. auntieA,

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[cleofus1]

4. my condolences

and my sympathy in your hour of grief...
it's a beautiful poem...

[Skittles]

5. so sorry Swede

my condolences

[Swede]

13. This means a lot coming from you Skittles.

So many of my friends watched me fall apart,big tough Bob,weep like a lost little boy.

[Skittles]

17. awwww

that just means your mom raised a good son

[u4ic]

7. Swede,

that is a beautiful poem. I'm bookmarking it for the next anniversary of my mom's death.

Please take care. :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[lavenderdiva]

8. Swede, that is a beautiful poem and I am so glad that you shared it.

I'm sure she did want you to find it, and wanted to remind you to look forward with hope. Having lost both of my parents to sudden heart attacks within 4 months, I understand how hard hope for the future is to hold onto. Yet you know, somewhere deep inside, that they wouldn't want you to waste time, looking back with sadness.

Your mother's words are a beautiful reminder- Thank you for sharing them. I have bookmarked your post, so I can remind myself of her words... :hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. My dear Swede.........

I just read this out loud to myself....

And I very nearly couldn't do it........

My voice started to shake, and my eyes brimmed with tears......

Thank you for this.......

It is very beautiful..........

I am bookmarking your thread so I can always find this......

Peace to you now in this grief-filled time.........:hug:

[Swede]

12. Thanks Peggy.

It has been a tough time. The doctors gave her weeks,but she only lasted 4 days. I was with her,with my brothers and sisters at the end.

[Haole Girl]

10. That is a beautiful poem

:hug:

[Breeze54]

11. My condolances Swede...

I feel your pain.

Your Mother left you a beautiful message and some wise words to live by.
I lost both my parents a few years ago and that poem just spoke to me, as well...

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what she'd want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.


Thank you for sharing it.
:hug:

[Swede]

14. This is one of her favorite songs.

Her grandchildren sang this song at the funeral.


Looking back on the memory of
The dance we shared beneath the stars above
For a moment all the world was right
How could I have known you'd ever say goodbye
And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance
Holding you I held everything
For a moment wasn't I the king
But if I'd only known how the king would fall
Hey who's to say you know I might have changed it all
And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance
Yes my life is better left to chance
I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVCU4oQ20fw

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. I don't think I could have held it together through that song.

I am not a big fan of Garth Brooks, but that song makes me weep everytime I hear it.

Swede, I am so sorry. No one ever tells us as adults how much we need our parents.

Thinking of you,
Laura

[Swede]

20. This is his one truly beautiful song.

Thanks,Laura.

[LaraMN]

15. I'm sorry.

What a difficult thing to deal with. That's a beautiful poem, and the message seems very wise.

[Robeson]

16. That is beautiful, Swede....

...thank you for sharing it with us.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

18. That's a truly beautiful poem

And a beautiful philosophy contained within the poem -how poingnant and true. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread

Thank you very much for this poem and my sincere and heartfelt thoughts, prayers, condolences and sympathies to you and your family:hug: :hug: May your mother rest in peace. She sounds like a remarkable woman :hug:

[NewWaveChick1981]

21. Your mom wanted you to be comforted.

She's hugging you even now. :hug: :pals:

[Katina]

22. that is beautiful

what a gift from your mother. condolences on your loss.